Frequently Asked Questions

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a unique nine-digit number assigned by the IRS to identify a business entity for tax purposes. It's sometimes called a Federal Tax Identification Number. An LLC with more than one member, any corporation, and any business with employees must have one, and banks ask for it to open a business account. A sole proprietor with no employees can use their Social Security number instead, though many get an EIN anyway to keep the SSN off W-9s and client paperwork.

Read more: What is an EIN used for, and who needs one

Typically 2 to 4 business days from your order to your EIN in your inbox, when the application goes through the IRS online system. We work Monday to Friday, so an order placed at the weekend starts on Monday. Some applications cannot go through the online system and have to be faxed to the IRS instead: an IRS name conflict (Reference 101), a responsible party with no SSN or ITIN, a business with no U.S. address, or an online account the IRS has locked. The IRS works faxed applications from a queue, so those take about 11 business days from the fax, sometimes longer. We tell you if that applies to yours, and your tracking page shows which way it was filed.

Read more: The honest timeline for every application method

Almost always because it had to be filed by fax. The IRS online system only accepts applications where the responsible party has an SSN or ITIN, the business has a U.S. address, and the name does not conflict with an existing record; anything else goes to an IRS examiner by fax, and the IRS works that queue at its own pace, about 11 business days and sometimes longer during busy periods or after a holiday. If yours was faxed, your tracking page says so, and the filing email told you which of two endings to expect: the number comes back to us and we email it, or, for a name-conflict filing, the IRS releases it only to you by phone and we email and text you when it is time to call. Nothing is stuck; the clock is just longer. The IRS currently reports that it processes faxed SS-4 applications 10 business days after receipt (IRS Processing Status for Tax Forms, updated October 2, 2026).

Read more: Every method and how long it takes

Reference number 101 means the IRS found a business name conflict: your entity's name matches or closely resembles one already in IRS records, often in another state, and the online application will not decide the match itself. Retrying online fails every time. The fix is a faxed Form SS-4 so a person reviews it (applicants outside the U.S. can also call the international line), and your business name does not need to change. If you order with us and the IRS returns a 101, we handle that step.

Read more: IRS Error 101: what it means and how to fix it

An estate always needs its own EIN before the executor can open an estate bank account or file Form 1041. A trust depends on the type: an irrevocable trust needs its own EIN, while a revocable living trust normally uses the grantor's Social Security number until the grantor dies, at which point it becomes irrevocable and needs one. The executor or trustee is the responsible party on the application.

Read more: EIN for an estate: the full guide

Our team processes applications Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 8 PM ET. Applications submitted over the weekend are typically not processed until the following Monday.

You'll need: the legal name and type of your business entity, the responsible party's full legal name and SSN (or ITIN), your business address, the reason you're applying, and basic details about your business activity. Our step-by-step form guides you through exactly what's needed.

Yes. We take data security very seriously. Your SSN is encrypted at rest using AES-256-GCM encryption, transmitted only over encrypted HTTPS connections, and never included in auto-saved drafts. It is only sent to our servers on final submission. Payment card data is handled entirely by Stripe and never touches our servers.

The responsible party is the individual who controls, manages, or directs the entity and the disposition of its funds and assets. For a sole proprietorship, this is the owner. For an LLC, it's typically a managing member. For a corporation, it's usually a principal officer. The IRS requires this person's SSN or ITIN on the application.

When you authorize EIN Registration as your third-party designee, you're giving us permission to communicate with the IRS on your behalf regarding your EIN application. This is a standard IRS process, using the Third Party Designee section of Form SS-4. The authorization is limited to the EIN application only.

You may request a full refund at any time before we submit your application to the IRS. Once submitted, refunds are generally not available because the preparation work has been completed, with one important exception. If the IRS returns a Reference 101 name conflict, your application has to be prepared and faxed to an IRS examiner, which takes longer and needs additional documents from you. In that case the refund window stays open, and you may cancel for a full refund at any time up until we fax your application. If the IRS rejects your application due to an error on our part, we'll re-submit at no charge or issue a full refund, whichever you choose.

No. We prepare and submit your application accurately based on the information you provide, but the IRS makes all final determinations. Common reasons for rejection include incorrect SSN, duplicate applications, or entity eligibility issues. If your application is rejected, we'll work with you to resolve it.

Yes. A responsible party with an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) can apply like anyone with an SSN, as long as the business has a U.S. address. A responsible party with neither, or a business with no U.S. address, cannot use the IRS online application at all: the SS-4 has to be faxed or mailed, or, from outside the U.S., phoned in on the IRS international line. We prepare and fax those applications, and they take about 11 business days.

Read more: How to get an EIN without an SSN

The IRS issues the CP 575 confirmation letter once and does not reissue it. What you can get instead is a 147C verification letter, which banks and lenders accept in its place. The responsible party requests it by calling the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line. Before you call, the number itself is usually already written on a prior tax return, a bank account application, a payroll filing, or a state registration.

Read more: How to get a 147C letter

It depends on how your application was filed, and we tell you which applies in the email we send when we file. Where the IRS returns the number to us, we email you as soon as we have it. Where it doesn't (applications filed by fax, most commonly after a Reference 101 name conflict), the IRS releases the number only to the responsible party, so you obtain it by calling the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line. We email you when it's time to call, with everything you need for the call.

If your business was previously assigned an EIN, you'll indicate that on your application along with the prior EIN number. The IRS may issue a new EIN or direct you to use your existing one depending on your circumstances.

Email us at help@llc-ein.com from the address on your order and a team member will assist you. If your application hit an IRS Reference 101 and we've asked you for your formation documents, there's also a "Request a refund" button on the document upload page we linked you to. That's the fastest route. A person reviews every request and you'll get an email confirming the decision either way. Approved refunds go back to your original payment method and typically appear within 5 to 10 business days.

No, we are not. We are not associated with the IRS, US Dept. of Treasury or any other federal or state organization. We are a document filing company that acts, on your behalf, as your Third Party Designee in obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN) directly from the IRS and charge a fee of $197 for our services. You can also visit the irs.gov site and complete an EIN application yourself free of charge.